Automobile signal



y 1935. B, M. VAN DYKE ET AL 2,008,886

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed March 23 -llllJlJlJ 3 Patented July 23, 1935 STATES PATENT QFF R AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Bert M. Van Dyke and Ambrose Van Dyke Haman, Tunkhannock, Pa.

Application March 23, 1933, Serial No. 662,344 1 Claim. (01. zit-n This invention relates to automobile signals and taching a license plate 5 to the bracket. It is has for its object the production of a simple and preferable to mount the signal lights 6 adjacent efiicient automobile signal light which may be the tail light 2 and upon opposite sides thereof, conveniently mounted adjacent the license tag and also in a position preferably above the license 5 or in any other suitable or convenient position plate, although these lights 6 may if desired, be 5 in order to designate the direction of the turn the hung below the license plate without departing vehicle upon which the lightis mounted, is about from the spirit of the invention. to make. A pair of these lights 6 are preferably employed Another object of this invention is theproduccomprising preferably oval shaped casings and a tion of a simple and efficient bracket support for lighting bulb l is mounted within each casing or 10 the signal light, light 6. A suitable lens 8 which may be made A further object of this invention is the producof orange color celluloid is carried by each lamp 6 tionof a simple and efficient control switch and to permit utmost visibility and yet prevent remeans for mounting the control switch adjacent flection of sharp rays which would destroy the I the steering wheel in a convenient location to be effectiveness of the arrow signal 9 formed upon 15 operated by the driver of the vehicle. the lens 8. The arrow signal 9 is preferably With these and other objects in view, this informed of a contrasting color sumcient to permit vention consists in certain novel constructions, the arrow to be readily visible, so as to be easily combinations and arrangements of parts as will disting iishable from the tail light. The face of be hereinafter fully described and claimed. each lamp is preferably roughened, as shown in 20 In the drawing: Figure 1, to eliminateany glare or reflection at Figure 1 is a, plan view of a, portion of a, supnight from the headlights of any other car from porting bracket and license tag showing the signal behind, or in front in case lights are mounted on lights mounted thereon; the front of the car. The arrows formed on the 1 Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2- -2 of lens are preferably of a distinctive shape or de- 25 Figure 1; sign, as shown, and the arrows are preferably of Figure 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of one a distinctive shade of frosted material. I of the lamps showing the supporting bracket at- Each lamp 6 is supported upon a specially contached thereto; ructed bracket I0, each bracket I0 having a Figure 4 is a front elevation of a dashboard of flange H which is secured to the under face of 30 an automobile showing a control switch-mounted a lamp 6, and extended at an angle to the body thereon; of the bracket ID, as shown in Figure 2, the flange Figure 5 is a top plan view of a steering wheel H be Connected to the lamp 5 y means 0f showing a control switch carried thereby; suitable rivets or other securing means. An'aper- Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the u e I2 s fo ed in t fla e I! t g which 35 control switch mounted upon a steering column; the electrical cable l3 may P extending Figure 7 is a top plan view of the structure into the lampcasing. The bracket I0 is provided shown in Figure 6, certain parts being shown in near its lower edge with an elongated transversesection; 1y extending slot l4 through which a supporting 40 Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 f bolt 4 may extend for the purpose of locking the 40 Figure 7; bracket l0 upon the supporting bracket l, the

Figure 9 is a detail perspective View of the cable bracket being Capable of longitudinal adjustretaining clamp or clip adapted to anchor the m p the pp r bracket l d e to the cable in conjunction with the steering column; formation of the elongated slot l4 through which and the bolt 4 passes. The bracket I0 is provided with 46 Figure 10 is a diagrammatic View of the eleca r lly n tongue 5 w ich is pr r ly trica] i it employed for actuating th signals struck from the body of the bracket l0 and folded By referring to the drawing, it will be seen inwardly as clearly shown in Figure 2, and this that l designates the supporting bracket for a tongue I5 is adapted to overhang the upper edge 50 license plate which may be of the conventional of the supporting bracket l. andflrmly hold the 50 type common to the trade, the supporting bracket lamp 6 g i n thereby p m n th also carrying the tail light 2. This bracket I is brack It! o be fi mlyv l k i a set position preferably provided with a pair of laterally ex-' upon the supporting bracket 1 merely by using tending arms 3 having securing bolts 4 extending a single bolt, such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 'therethrough which are normally used for at- 2. The various light units may be provided with 5 suitable holes or apertures to provide for ventilation;

In conjunction with the lamps 6, it of course is necessary to employ some means for controlling the lighting of the bulbs l which are mounted within the lamps 6. This control means may be in the nature of a switch box I6 which may be either mounted upon the dashboard ll of the vehicle or supported, as will be hereinafter described in connection with the steering wheel l8. The switch box iii in each instance, is similarly constructed and may be varied as to shape and design to suit the desired location for mounting. The switch box [6 comprises a casing in which is supported a pilot light l9 over which fits a lens 20, which lens is supported preferably by a suitable cap 2i having spring clips 22 which are adapted to fit over the socket of the pilot light l9 and hold the cap 2| in position, Notches 23 may be formed in the switch box 16 for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the cap 2| when desired for replacing the pilot light IS. The switch box 16 also carries a double pole double throw toggle switch 24 having a center ofi position and a suitable legend indicating left and right indicia by the numeral 25 may be placed upon the outer face of the switch box IS. The indicla L and R are preferably radium illuminated for distinct visability at night. One side of the switch 24 is connected to a source of electrical supply 26 by means of a wire 21 and one pole 28 which is adapted to be engaged by the switch 24 is electrically connected to one of the bulbs I carried by one of the lamps 6 through the medium of the wire 29. The pilot light I9 is coni nected in series with each of the lamps I through the medium of a wire 30 and a wire 3| connects the bulbs l which are carried by the respective lamps 6. The pilot lamp l9, however, has two terminals, one of the terminals indicated by the numeral 32 being located adjacent the terminal 28 so as to close a circuit across the terminals 28 and 32, and cause the current to pass from the source of electrical supply 26 through the wire 21. through the terminal 28 by means of the double pole switch 24 through the wire 29 through the left lamp 1 through the wire 3| to the wire 30 through the pilot light I9 through the terminal 32 and through the switch to the ground.

By swinging the switch 24 to the right, the terminals of the switch 24 will contact with the terminals 33 and 34, thereby sending the current through the right bulb 1. In each instance, the pilot light I9 will burn, and should the pilot light l9 fail to function, the driver of the vehicle will be advised that the signal lights in the rear have failed to function. The burning of the pilot light also will call attention to the driver of the necessity for moving the switch to a neutral position after the desired turn has been made. From the above and by considering Figure 10, it will be seen that the pilot light I9 operates in the Right circuit when the switch 24 is thrown to the right, and in the Left circuit when the switch 24 is thrown to the left. -This will allow the pilot light to constitute a trouble shooter to determine whether or not the various circuits are properly v operating.

In many instances, it is desired to support the switch box 16. adjacent the steering wheel {8, and in order to support the switch box I 6 in the desired position, a suitable clamping bracket 35 is employed comprising preferably a primary clamping section 36 and an auxiliary clamping section 31 which will both be adapted to'fit around the steering column 38 and be held in clamping engagement by means of suitable securing bolts 39. A protecting packing 40 may be employed around the steering column 38, if desired. One of the sections of the clamp 35 is provided with a, projecting arm 4! which arm is provided with a pair of side folded flanges 42 between which flanges extends and fits the projecting shank 43 of the switch box supporting arm 44. This arm 44 may be held in engagement with the arm 4| if desired, by means of suitable anchoring screws or in any other suitable or desired manner. The arm 44, however, may be adjusted within the length of the fianges42 to place the switch box l6 at a desired and convenient location relative to the steering column 38. This arm 44 is preferably bent at an angle to support the switch box 16 in offset relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the clamp 35. The

conducting cable 45 which passes from the switch It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed, so long as such changes fallwithin the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

As a new article of manufacture, a bracket for supporting a signal lamp comprising a sheet metal body having an angularly bent flange at its upper end upon which a lamp is adapted to rest and be secured in position, the body having an elongated slot through which a securing bolt is adapted to pass, said body having at a point-intermediate the slot and the flange a laterally bent tongue struck from the body of the bracket and extending at substantially right angles to the body of the bracket, the flange of the bracket being arranged to'support a lamp substantially above the tongue, the tongue being adapted to overhang a support and constitute a means for sustaining the weight of the lamp and relieve strain from the securing bolt which is adapted to pass through the slot in the bracket, said tongue also bracing the bracket against twisting movement upon a support and holding the bracket against tilting whereby the bracket may be held in position by the use of a single bolt.

BERT M. VAN DYKE. AMBROSE VAN DYKE HAMAN. 

